Figure 1.-- We note a kind of combination knicker socks offered by Sears. They apparently did not prove very popular. Sears also offered ankle socks which were said to "made just like dad's". HBC has noticed a number of different types of boys' hosiery worn with knickers--long stockings in plain colors and patterned golf-style socks with turn-over cuffs being the most common. Here we have sports stockings of a ribbed heather texture designed to be worn with knickers. But these stockings can be turned down so as to make cuffs (they have stripes around the top). They can also be worn full-length over the knee so as to provide greater warmth on cold days.

We note a kind of combination knicker socks offered by Sears. They apparently did not prove very popular. Sears also offered ankle socks which were said to "made just like dad's". HBC has noticed a number of different types of boys' hosiery worn with knickers--long stockings in plain colors and patterned golf-style socks with turn-over cuffs being the most common. We have even noticed combination stockings to be worn by boys with short pants that looked like knee socks from the knee down but had flesh-colored tops that extended over the knee to give the coverage of full-length stockings. By the late 1930s and early 40s we see some boys wearing knickers with ankle socks, but as far we can tell, it was not yet very common in 1935. Here we have a style of hosiery that I did not realize was made. The ad appeared in the Sears Fall and Winter catalog for 1935 (p. 218). Here we have sports stockings of a ribbed heather texture designed to be worn with knickers. But these stockings can be turned down so as to make cuffs (they have stripes around the top). They can also be worn full-length over the knee so as to provide greater warmth on cold days.

Sears

The Sears, Roebuck and Co., huge merchandising firm centered in Chicago was founded by Richard W. Sears (1863-1914) and A.C. Roebuck (1864-1948). Sears had begun a career in mail-order business in Minnesota 1886. In Chicago he and Roebuck joined resources and formed a corporation in 1893 as a mail-order business under title Sears, Roebuck and Company. Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) in 1895 bought Roebuck's interest in firm and became president on Sears's retirement 1908. A retail-store system was added 1925. The first foreign store added in Havana, Cuba during 1945 and becane te first expropriated store in 1960. The Sears-Roebuck brought the production of industry to the fartherest corner of rural America, opening the cornucopia of the consumer age to rural America. All the new things that were changing American life danced across their pages. Through it, a huge Chicago warehouse offers to modernize the farms and small towns of the Midwest.

Knicker Hosiery

HBC has noticed a number of different types of boys' hosiery worn with knickers--long stockings in plain colors and patterned golf-style socks with turn-over cuffs being the most common. We have even noticed combination stockings to be worn by boys with short pants that looked like knee socks from the knee down but had flesh-colored tops that extended over the knee to give the coverage of full-length stockings. They were also called 2 in 1 stockings. By the late 1930s and early 40s we see some boys wearing knickers with ankle socks, but as far we can tell, it was not yet very common in 1935.

Combination Knicker Socks

Here we have a style of hosiery that I did not realize was made. The ad appeared in the Sears Fall and Winter catalog for 1935 (p. 218). Here we have sports stockings of a ribbed heather texture designed to be worn with knickers. But these stockings can be turned down so as to make cuffs (they have stripes around the top). They can also be worn full-length over the knee so as to provide greater warmth on cold days. The illustration shows the boy pulling up the leg of one stocking to about mid-thigh over his knickers while he wears the other stocking cuffed with his knickers in the normal way. Boys of course would not have worn long stockings on top of knickers. The boy in the ad simply pulls the stocking up high to show how long it can be worn underneath the knickers--or maybe under short pants since the ad specifies that the extended length is just as "good-looking" as the cuffed style and emphasizes that the full-length style would look fine because the stockings "have no seams" between cuff and lower leg. The advertisement mentions no elasticizing in the stocking top, so boys who wore this type of hosiery would probably need round garters worn, either above or below the knee depending on the degree of chilliness. The ad suggests that boys might want "long stockings when they're outdoors" and "knee-lengths" when "indoors."

Appeal

Theoretically, of course, the boy might wear supporters to keep up the stockings if worn above the knee, but I doubt that this option would have appealed much to boys, although protective mothers might, I suppose, have insisted on suppoters to avoid a sloppy appearance. Nevertheless it is interesting that this ad seems to be aimed at mothers who wanted their sons to have the protection of long stockings and boys who wanted the sportier look of knee socks.

Ages

The sizes go up to 10 1/2--large enough for a boy about 14 or even 15 years old. The ad also shows some adult style socks for boys "made like Dad's". These, interestingly, are suitable not only for boys but also for men "who wear small sizes."

Sears Ad Copy

The Sears ad copy read, "Look! Wear 'Em as Knee Lengths or Up Over the Knee" 19 cents a pair. -- sports ribbed to the toe -- warm looking heather colors --good fall and winter weight. For boys who like knee-lengths indoors--long stockings when they're outdoors. These can be worn either way because they have no seams. They have striped tops that can be pulled over the knees or turned down to make cuffs--good-looking either way. Their good quality cotton, rich heather colors and sports ribbing put them right in the style class. Reinforced heels and toes. Flat knit seamless feet. 86 K 2897--Blue heather, Brown heather or Tan heather with striped cuffs similar to illustration. Sizes 7, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2, 9, 9 1/2, 10, 10 1/2. State size, color. Shipping weight, pair, 4 ounces. 3 pairs, 8 ounces. Pair 19 cents; 3 Pairs 55 cents.

Ankle Socks

The Sears catalog also offered nkle socks. They were labeled "Boys' Fancy Socks Made Like Dad's". The ad copy read, "10 cents a pair. The same fancy socks men wear--but these are sized for boys, in the foot and leg as well. Popular, too, with men who wear small sizes. Rayon-plated. Lustrous rayon over long wearing cotton. Reinforced cotton heels and toes. Ribbed tops. Seamless feet. 86 K 2878--Assorted colors in patterns similar to illustration. Sizes, 8, 8 1/2, 9, 9 1/2, 10. State size. Shipping weight, pair, 2 ounces, 3 pairs, 4 ounces. Pair, 10 cents; 3 Pairs, 29 cents."

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Created: 11:30 PM 5/8/2006
Last updated: 11:30 PM 5/8/2006